An Alfa Romeo SUV is due by 2015, the manufacturer's UK brand manager has
confirmed.

An Alfa Romeo SUV is due on sale by the end of 2015, company insiders have confirmed.

Speaking to Motoring in a live webinar as part of the Telegraph Festival of Motoring, Damien Dally, head of brand Alfa Romeo UK, said: "There will certainly be an SUV in the next two or three years."

He said that the Fiat Group's ownership of Jeep gives Alfa Romeo access to a "whole portfolio of technologies." The new SUV model is expected to share much with the new Jeep Cherokee that was unveiled at the 2013 New York motor show in March this year.

The platform for the new Cherokee is also used by the US Dodge Dart and the Alfa Romeo Giulietta. Using this platform means that technology and engines could be shared with the Giulietta; front- and four-wheel-drive versions are likely to be offered.

No images of the new SUV have been revealed, although the styling could be influenced by the Alfa Romeo Kamal concept car (pictured), which was unveiled in 2003.

Alfa Romeo is also due to launch a new Spider roadster in 2015. Alfa Romeo and Mazda have announced plans to collaborate on a new model and the new Spider will be closely related to the next Mazda MX-5.

Despite its shared origins, Dally says the new Spider will be "absolutely, 100 per cent an Alfa Romeo" and that it will allow them to sell an open-top model at a lower price than recent Alfa Romeo convertibles.

A rival for compact executive saloons such as the Audi A4 and BMW 3-series is also in pipeline. Dally said that Fiat Group CEO Sergio Marchionne is "absolutely exacting" on making sure the car is as good as it should be and hinted that it is likely to go on sale in 2014.

Dally also confirmed that production of the 4C sports car is on schedule and that it will go on sale in the UK late 2013.